Screaming Queens: The Riot at Compton's Cafeteria
2005·Documentary·57m
7.1
★
The first major uprising against police brutality, harassment, and societal oppression was not at Stonewall in 1969, but at Compton's Cafeteria in San Francisco three years earlier. Those who stood up were trans women and gay men. Now, nearly 40 years on, Susan Stryker and Victor Silverman tell the story of this oft-overlooked event in the history of American civil rights.
Directed by Victor Silverman and Susan Stryker
police brutality
san francisco, california
drag queen
diner
civil rights
riot
oppression
lgbt
woman director
trans woman
transgender rights
tenderloin district
gay rights
american history
trans women
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Where to Watch
Cast
Susan Stryker
Herself / Narrator
Aleshia Brevard
Herself
Crew
Susan Stryker
Director
Susan Stryker
Writer
Sophie E. Constantinou
Director of Photography
Susan Stryker
Producer
Popular Reviews
10 reviews
bug
i luv u transexuals <3
i luv u transexuals <3
Wyatt
8.0★ · 06/12/25
Watched for free here. Beautiful little doc with names and faces and voices to the revolutionary memories of the Tenderloin in the 60s. brought me to tears hearing about what a sort of safe haven the cafeteria was, like "oz," a place where queens could catch up w friends and strut and exist in community--aside from transphobic pigs whose only job is to terrorize the vulnerable. but i look to these women with gratitude and awe, who threw sugar shakers and hit cops with their heavy purses and refused to cut their hair even after weeks in solitary confinement. we have come so far and yet there is so much to be done, and keeping these histories at the forefront of our minds will lead the way. one day there will be no fight to survive, we will just be.
"out of compton's came some very beautiful, beautiful women. we felt good. and that's the most interesting part of it, because once you feel good about yourself, nobody can hurt you. nobody can come in and turn anything around that you don't want." rip amanda st. jaymes <3
"out of compton's came some very beautiful, beautiful women. we felt good. and that's the most interesting part of it, because once you feel good about yourself, nobody can hurt you. nobody can come in and turn anything around that you don't want." rip amanda st. jaymes <3
Watched for free here. Beautiful little doc with names and faces and voices to the revolutionary memories of the Tenderloin in the 60s. brought me to tears hearing about what a sort of safe haven the cafeteria was, like "oz," a place where queens could catch up w friends and strut and exist in community--aside from transphobic pigs whose only job is to terrorize the vulnerable. but i look to these women with gratitude and awe, who threw sugar shakers and hit cops with their heavy purses and refused to cut their hair even after weeks in solitary confinement. we have come so far and yet there is so much to be done, and keeping these histories at the forefront of our minds will lead the way. one day there will be no fight to survive, we will just be.
"out of compton's came some very beautiful, beautiful women. we felt good. and that's the most interesting part of it, because once you feel good about yourself, nobody can hurt you. nobody can come in and turn anything around that you don't want." rip amanda st. jaymes <3
"out of compton's came some very beautiful, beautiful women. we felt good. and that's the most interesting part of it, because once you feel good about yourself, nobody can hurt you. nobody can come in and turn anything around that you don't want." rip amanda st. jaymes <3
PeachSprite
8.5★ · 02/19/25
We have always been here and we always will be
We have always been here and we always will be
aly
10.0★ · 10/30/23
really great doc about the ups and downs of being trans back in the day ..i wasn’t educated on a lot of this and it really opened my eyes to the history behind the trans movement that got them to where they are today
really great doc about the ups and downs of being trans back in the day ..i wasn’t educated on a lot of this and it really opened my eyes to the history behind the trans movement that got them to where they are today
Gisell
9.3★ · 09/14/22
this was so informative !
this was so informative !